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Sacking of Colonia

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Sacking of Colonia
Date 857.M41[2]
Location Colonia[1]
Outcome Imperial victory[1]
Combatants
Imperium Orks Eldar
Commanders
Colonel Radge[1]
Tank Commander Maximillian Weisemann[3c]
Warlord Gharag Badtoof[1] Unknown
Strength
Multiple Imperial Guard Regiments[2][3c]
(see Order of Battle)
Horde At least one Warhost[2]
Losses/Survivors
Heavy Heavy At least one Autarch killed[2]


The Sacking of Colonia (also known simply as the Colonia Campaign[3b]) was a military campaign fought by Imperial forces in 857.M41[2] on the planet Colonia.[1]


Overview

Taking place on Colonia, the campaign saw a number of Imperial Guard Regiments battle ork forces under the Warlord Gharag Badtoof.[1][3c]

Notable Actions

One notable action of the campaign saw the famed Tank Commander Maximillian Weisemann lead a solo charge from his Baneblade, Arethusa, against an ork bridgehead led by Badtoof itself on the Cambria River before they could muster in large enough numbers to threaten nearby Imperial positions. Even after taking the enemy by surprise and inflicting such horrendous casualties that the orks started to flee, Weisemann sought to cut off their retreat and pin the horde in place so that the Imperials could wipe them out. However, Arethusa became bogged down in heavy mud and was rendered helpless. This led to Weisemann and his crew evacuating the tank before it was destroyed by fighta-bommers and fighting a desperate battle against the remaining orks. Weisemann gave the order for the uninjured crewmen to retreat to the Imperial lines and deliver intel to the Armoured Fist Squadrons mustering to aid Arethusa, while the Commander himself and three injured crew held position at the bridge. It took two months for Imperial forces to break through to Arethusa's position; when the Mortant 7th finally reached the site of the battle, they found the wreck of the tank, but no human bodies - what exactly happened to Weisemann and the other crew members remains a mystery to this day.[3c]

Also during the Sacking, a surprise assault by a warhost of Eldar from Craftworld Saim-Hann threatened to annihilate the Mortant 7th. However the Eldar were forced to retreat after a single squad of the Catachan Devils under Gunnery Sergeant Harker ambushed the aliens from concealed positions and killed their Autarch with Heavy Bolter fire.[2]

Aftermath

After defeating the Warboss, it is said the Mortant VII went on a three month rampage and devastated the civilian populace. However, many maintain they were innocent and the damage was done by the Orks.[1]


Imperial Order of Battle

Astra Militarum regiments

Sources